A 31-year-old Westminster man has pleaded guilty to beating his girlfriend during an argument last October.

Robert L. Wiles Jr., of the first block of E. George St., pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of battery in connection with the choking, hitting and kicking of his girlfriend, Bonnie J. Miller, on Oct. 17, Carroll County Circuit Court records say.

He will be sentenced in June. He will remain in custody at the Carroll County Detention Center.

Ms. Miller, 26, and the defendant -- who lived together at the time -- had been arguing "about communicating and not putting enough into the relationship," said police records in the case.

In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dropped an assault charge and agreed to place a September assault and battery case against Wiles on the inactive docket.

In the September case, police said Wiles and Ms. Miller began arguing after leaving a dance at the Gamber fire hall. After Wiles allegedly struck Ms. Miller in the head, she dropped him off and returned to the fire hall.

Police said that when she arrived back at the fire hall, she told Wiles' half-brother, Christopher Alan Bosley, of the alleged assault.

Police said Mr. Bosley, 24, of Westminster, took an ax handle from the trunk of his car and drove off to find his half-brother. A fight ensued, and police said Wiles hit Mr. Bosley with the ax handle.

Mr. Bosley was taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he remained until Oct. 12.